It was recently announced by local authorities that local favourite pastizzi and sausage rolls, among other items, have been banned from Christmas parties in schools... and well, while our patriotic love for the morsels of goodness brings a little tear to our eye, we can't say we're surprised.
A circular issued by the Curriculum Department to all the heads of college schools at Primary and Secondary levels excludes the two items from the list of food permitted at the Christmas festivities. Bummer!
As from this year, students are allowed to eat toasted bread with dips, small tuna rolls, party-sized baked macaroni, pizza with mozzarella topped with chicken or tuna or mushrooms or peas.
Dessert options included fruit, apple cupcakes, one-bit yeast rings and bread pudding. Soft drinks have also been prohibited and replaced with water, fresh fruit milkshakes, cinnamon spiced white milk, and warm milk with a limited amount of chocolate powder (without sugar)! Forget those delicious doughnuts, cronuts and cakes - they're banned too!
Gone are the days when kids would stuff their little faces with all the goodies they could think of during the class’ Christmas party! I’m sad just thinking about it, but well, it is for their own good...
Here's hoping this initiative might actually help the growing obesity rate in children. According to recent figures, nearly 30 per cent of Maltese children suffer with obesity - a worrying statistic. Still, while some agree that this should be implemented, including amending tuck shop and canteen menus, others argue that having a party once a year with a little bit of junk food isn’t going to kill anyone... which side are you on?
Do you agree with this change? Let us know in the comments below!